Enc.

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH

1150 Tusculum Ave

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

(513) 533-6825

CHAIRMAN

James M. Melius, M.D., Dr. PH.

 Albany, New York

MEMBERS

Henry Anderson, M.D.

 Madison, Wisconsin

Josie Beach

 Kennewick, Washington 

Bradley P. Clawson

 Rexburg, Idaho

R. William Field, Ph.D. 

 Iowa City, Iowa

David Kotelchuck, Ph.D.

 New York, New York

Richard Lemen, Ph.D.

 Canton, Georgia

James E. Lockey, M.D.

 Cincinnati, Ohio

Wanda I. Munn

 Richland, Washington

John W. Poston, Sr., Ph.D.

 College Station, Texas

David B. Richardson, Ph.D.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D.

 Elysian, Minnesota

Phillip Schofield

 Bosque Farm, New Mexico

Loretta R. Valerio

 Santa Fe, New Mexico

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.

 Lafayette, Indiana

STAFF

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Theodore M. Katz, MPA

 Atlanta, Georgia

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT 

Zaida Burgos

 Atlanta, Georgia

April 22, 2015

The Honorable Sylvia M. Burwell

Secretary 

Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Madam Secretary:

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (The Board) 

has evaluated Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition 00226 

concerning workers at the Hanford site in Richland, Washington, 

under the statutory requirements established by the Energy 

Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 

2000 and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.13. 

The Board respectfully recommends that SEC status be accorded 

to: 

“All employees of Department of Energy contractors and 

subcontractors (excluding employees of the following 

Hanford prime contractors during the specified time 

periods: Battelle Memorial Institute, January 1, 1984, 

through December 31, 1990; Rockwell Hanford 

Operations, January 1, 1984, through June 28, 1987; 

Boeing Computer Services Richland, January 1, 1984, 

through June 28, 1987; UNC Nuclear Industries, January 

1, 1984, through June 28, 1987; Westinghouse Hanford 

Company, January 1, 1984, through December 31, 1990; 

and Hanford Environmental Health Foundation, January 

1, 1984, through December 31, 1990), who worked at the 

Hanford site in Richland, Washington, during the period 

from January 1, 1984, through December 31, 1990, for a 

number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days, 

occurring either solely under this employment, or in 

combination with work days within the parameters 

established for one or more other classes of employees 

included in the Special Exposure Cohort.” 

This recommendation is based on the following factors: 

• Individuals employed at this facility in Richland, Washington, 

during the time period in question worked on research and 

production for materials used in the production of nuclear 

weapons.
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• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) review of 

available monitoring data, as well as available process and source term 

information for this facility found that NIOSH lacked the sufficient information 

necessary to reconstruct internal radiological exposure, and thus unable to 

complete individual dose reconstructions with sufficient accuracy for the 

class of employees as described by the proposed class definition. The Board 

concurs with this determination. 

• NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for the class of 

employees as described by the proposed class definition. The Board also concurs 

with this determination.

Based on these considerations and the discussion at the March 25 and 26, 2015, Board 

meeting held in Richland, Washington, the Board recommends that this class be added to the 

SEC. 

Enclosed is the documentation from the Board meeting(s) where this SEC class was 

discussed. The documentation includes copies of the petition, the NIOSH review thereof, and 

related materials. If any of these items are unavailable at this time, they will follow shortly.

Sincerely,

[Signature on File]

James M. Melius, M.D., Dr. PH.

Chairman, ABRWH

Enclosure